Ducks taking new approach with defense pairings

The Ducks signed free agent Bret Hedican on Oct. 23 with the idea that the veteran defenseman could team with mainstay Chris Pronger to provide the club with a solid blue-line tandem.

Ten games into Hedican's tenure with the Ducks, Coach Randy Carlyle is seeking another avenue.

"I don't think the experiment with him and Pronger is one we're going to want to continue," Carlyle said following an optional morning skate as the Ducks prepared for a Wednesday night confrontation with the Washington Capitals at Honda Center.

"We're going to have to try and stay away from that," Carlyle said. "I don't think the two mixed, for whatever reason -- two separate styles. They don't seem to read off of one another at this point."

Hedican is only two games away from 1,000 for his career, and Pronger needs only 41 to reach that milestone, but the two struggled to mesh, particularly with defensive-zone coverage.

Hedican scored his first goal of the season in the third period of Sunday's 2-0 victory over the visiting Kings, after Carlyle had switched up the defensive pairings to put Hedican with Steve Montador. While Carlyle wasn't willing to make a long-term commitment to that tandem, Hedican and Montador are likely to begin together against reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

"I think a lot of it goes into how well the other guys are playing, also," Carlyle said.

Carlyle and assistant coach Dave Farrish, who handles the team's defense, have their hands full trying to compensate for the loss of defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who is almost certainly out for the season after having suffered a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in his left knee during Friday's 4-3, overtime loss to the visiting Nashville Predators.

The Ducks responded to Beauchemin's injury by recalling rookie Brett Festerling from their American League affiliate, the Iowa Chops. With Festerling having only made his NHL debut Sunday, Carlyle wants to be careful not to ask too much of such a youthful player. Hedican, Montador and Kent Huskins, who combined against the Kings to eat up 6½ more minutes of ice time than their season averages, all figure to be called upon more in the absence of Beauchemin.

"What we'll try to do is try to mix Huskins and Festerling in with Pronger, and let Montador and Hedican play together on a more consistent basis," Carlyle said. "I think Scott Niedermayer can play with anybody."

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